Japan quake prompts foreigner exodus

TOKYO, May 1 (UPI) -- A quarter of foreigners living in Tokyo temporarily left Japan following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, a government survey indicates.

Among those who briefly returned to their home countries nearly half had lived in Japan for less than three years, The Mainichi Shimbun reported Tuesday.

Embassy or employers instructions and urging by family were among the most common reasons that foreigners gave for leaving Tokyo after the quake, the survey found.

The survey was conducted between October and November of 2011 as part of Tokyo's effort to re-examine the way the government delivers disaster information to foreigners residing in the capital.

Responses were obtained from 169 Tokyo-based foreigners.